JP2010140322A - Information processing apparatus, information processing method, program, and information processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

Pattern information is detected and recognized by an easy operation.
An information processing apparatus includes a reading unit that reads pattern information formed of a conductive material, an execution unit that executes predetermined processing based on the pattern information read by the reading unit, Is provided.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system, and particularly relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system that perform an arbitrary operation using a touch panel.

  In recent years, terminals that support QR codes are widely used in camera-equipped mobile phones and PHS terminals. As shown in FIG. 6, the QR code is photographed using a mobile phone that supports the QR code or a camera built in the PHS. Then, information such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) can be easily acquired using the information content of the captured QR code.

  For example, on a print medium such as an advertisement or a map or a web screen, a QR code recording a URL of a website having detailed information or a website for a mobile terminal is printed on a print medium such as an advertisement or a map. Is displayed. If it is possible to recognize the information content of the QR code by photographing the QR code with a mobile phone or the like, access to the site specified by the URL can be facilitated. In addition, the QR code storing personal data can be printed on a business card to facilitate the address book registration of the mobile phone. In addition, QR codes have begun to be used for payments such as online shopping.

  However, when recognizing pattern information such as a QR code using a camera such as a mobile phone shown in FIG. 6, the camera must be continuously activated when used, and image recognition is performed from video captured by the camera. Since pattern information is detected, there is a problem that power consumption is large. In addition, it is necessary to secure a distance and brightness for shooting pattern information, and it is difficult to detect and recognize pattern information such as QR code when shooting in contact or shooting in the dark. There was a problem of becoming.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved information processing capable of detecting and recognizing pattern information with an easy operation. An object is to provide an apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, a reading unit that reads pattern information formed of a conductive material, and a predetermined process is executed based on the pattern information read by the reading unit An information processing apparatus is provided.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to read pattern information formed of a conductive material and execute a predetermined process based on the read pattern information. As a result, it is possible to detect and recognize the pattern information without imaging the pattern information with a camera or the like provided in the information processing apparatus, and it is possible to detect and recognize the pattern information with an easy operation. .

  The reading unit may read pattern information using a capacitive touch panel, and the reading unit may read the pattern information when the pattern information is in contact with or close to the capacitive touch panel. .

  Thus, it is not necessary to adjust the ambient brightness as when pattern information is captured by a camera, and pattern information can be read even in the dark. Further, since the pattern information can be recognized in contact with or close to the pattern information, it is not necessary to adjust the position of the information processing apparatus 100 so that the pattern information is within the imaging range.

  In addition, a determination unit that determines whether a reading target to be read in response to a user operation is pattern information or a finger is included, and the reading unit determines that the reading target is pattern information by the determination unit The pattern information may be read.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the reading target is pattern information, and to execute different processes depending on whether the reading target is pattern information or a reading target is a finger. This makes it possible to execute various processes according to the reading target.

  The reading unit may perform binarization processing on the read pattern information.

  The determination unit may determine whether the reading target is pattern information or a finger based on the characteristics of the capacitance data to be read.

  Further, the determining unit may determine whether the reading target is pattern information based on at least one of the capacitance data characteristics of the edge characteristics, dynamic range, and frequency characteristics of the reading target. Good.

  In order to solve the above problems, according to another aspect of the present invention, a step of reading pattern information formed of a conductive material and a predetermined process based on the read pattern information are performed. And an information processing method including steps.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, a computer is configured to read a pattern information formed of a conductive material, and to read the pattern information read by the reading unit. A program for causing the information processing apparatus to function as an information processing apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problem, according to another aspect of the present invention, information including an information processing device and a medium including pattern information formed of a conductive material readable by the information processing device. A processing system is provided.

  The information processing apparatus includes a reading unit that reads pattern information included in a medium, and an execution unit that executes predetermined processing based on the pattern information read by the reading unit.

  As described above, according to the present invention, pattern information can be detected and recognized by an easy operation.

  Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present specification and drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are

Further, the “best mode for carrying out the invention” will be described in the following order.
[1] Purpose of this embodiment [2] Outline of information processing system [3] Hardware configuration of information processing apparatus [4] Functional configuration of information processing apparatus [5] Operation of information processing apparatus

[1] Object of this embodiment First, the object of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. In recent years, terminals that support QR codes are widely used in camera-equipped mobile phones and PHS terminals. As shown in FIG. 6, the QR code is photographed using a mobile phone that supports the QR code or a camera built in the PHS. Then, information such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) can be easily acquired using the information content of the captured QR code.

  For example, on a print medium such as an advertisement or a map or a web screen, a QR code recording a URL of a website having detailed information or a website for a mobile terminal is printed on a print medium such as an advertisement or a map. Is displayed. If it is possible to recognize the information content of the QR code by photographing the QR code with a mobile phone or the like, access to the site specified by the URL can be facilitated. In addition, a QR code storing personal data can be printed on a business card to facilitate the address book registration of the mobile phone. In addition, QR codes have begun to be used for payments such as online shopping.

  However, when recognizing pattern information such as a QR code using a camera such as a mobile phone shown in FIG. 6, the camera must be continuously activated when used, and image recognition is performed from video captured by the camera. Since pattern information is detected, there is a problem that power consumption is large. In addition, it is necessary to secure a distance and brightness for shooting pattern information, and there is a problem that QR code cannot be detected and recognized when shooting in contact or shooting in the dark. .

  Accordingly, the information processing apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been created with the above circumstances as a focus. According to the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, pattern information can be detected and recognized by an easy operation.

  In the present embodiment, a mobile phone, a PDA (personal digital assistant), and the like will be described as an example of the information processing apparatus 100. However, the information processing apparatus 100 is not limited to this example, and can be applied to a personal computer or the like. Moreover, although comprised as display apparatuses, such as a display, as an integrated apparatus, it is not limited to this example. The information processing device 100 and the display device may be configured as separate devices.

[2] Outline of Information Processing System Next, an outline of an information processing system (not shown) including the information processing apparatus 100 will be described. The information processing system according to the present embodiment includes at least the information processing apparatus 100 and a medium including pattern information formed of a conductive material readable by the information processing apparatus 100.

  The functions of the information processing apparatus 100 will be described in detail later. Mainly, pattern information formed of a conductive material applied to a medium is read, and predetermined processing is executed based on the pattern information. It has a function to do.

  Examples of pattern information formed of a conductive material include a QR code. The QR code is a matrix type two-dimensional code in which the same number of small square points are arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions. The QR code has 40 types of specifications, ranging from “version 1” in which 21 small square dots are arranged on one side to “version 40” in which 177 are arranged.

  The more points you have, the more information you can record, but the required area will grow. “Circle” -shaped “cut-out symbols” (finder patterns) are arranged at the three corners of the QR code, so that information can be read accurately from any 360 ° reading direction.

  The maximum amount of information that can be recorded in a QR code is 23,648 bits in the case of version 40. Since QR codes use their own character codes, they can record 1,817 characters for kana and kanji, 4,296 characters for alphabets and numbers, and 7,089 characters for numbers only. Data is given redundancy so that it can be restored even if part of the data is damaged and cannot be read. The error correction rate used in the QR code can be set in four stages, and the lowest one can cope with contamination of about 7% and the highest one up to about 30%. Since the higher the error correction rate, the more redundant data is required, the amount of data that can be recorded is limited accordingly.

  As described above, in recent years, a mobile phone is equipped with a QR code reading function, and inputting by a button operation such as an Internet URL has become widespread as a means for easily inputting troublesome data.

  In the information processing system according to the present embodiment, pattern information in which characters and numbers are stored as in the above-described QR code is formed of a conductive material and described on a medium. The medium describing the pattern information may be a paper medium or a foldable film. Moreover, the film which has electroconductivity can also be used. In this case, the film itself may have conductivity, or a material having conductivity may be formed on the film surface. Then, a predetermined process based on the read pattern information is executed by the information processing apparatus capable of reading the pattern information. As a result, pattern information can be detected and recognized by an easy operation.

[3] Hardware configuration of information processing apparatus The outline of the information processing system has been described above. Next, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described based on FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  The information processing apparatus 100 includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) 101, a nonvolatile memory 102, a display device 103, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 104, an input device 105, and the like.

  The CPU 104 functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device, and controls the overall operation in the information processing device 100 according to various programs. The CPU 104 may be a microprocessor. The non-volatile memory 102 stores programs used by the CPU 104, calculation parameters, and the like. The RAM 101 primarily stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 104, parameters that change as appropriate during the execution, and the like. These are connected to each other by a host bus (not referred to) including a CPU bus.

  The display device 103 is an example of an output device provided in the information processing apparatus 100. The display device 103 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as LCD) device, and outputs results obtained by various processes performed by the information processing apparatus 100. Specifically, the display device 103 displays the results obtained by various processes performed by the information processing device 100 as text or images.

  The input device 105 generates an input signal based on an input by the user, such as a mouse, a keyboard, a touch screen, a button, a microphone, a switch, and a lever, and an input by the user, and outputs the input signal to the CPU 104. It consists of an input control circuit. A user of the information processing apparatus 100 can input various data or instruct a processing operation to the information processing apparatus 100 by operating the input device 105.

  In the present embodiment, mainly, an operation body such as a user's finger is detected using a touch panel, or pattern information formed of a conductive material is read. The touch panel has two functions of display and input. The touch panel according to the present embodiment can detect a finger or pattern information of a user who is approaching or touching.

  As a detection method, a resistance film method using a metal thin film constituting a transparent electrode, a capacitance method that detects a change in capacitance between a fingertip and a conductive film, an infrared light shielding method, Any method can be used as long as it can detect an operating tool or pattern information that is in contact with or close to the display, such as an electromagnetic induction method.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, the operating tool and pattern information are detected using an electrostatic touch panel. Here, with reference to FIG. 2, the detection method of the operation body (finger) by an electrostatic touch panel is demonstrated. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a detection method of an operating tool using an electrostatic touch panel. As shown in the explanatory diagram 200 of FIG. 2, the electrostatic touch panel has electrostatic sensors arranged in a grid (for example, 10 × 7), and the value of the electrostatic sensor is changed by a change in capacitance. To change.

  When a user's finger as an operating body approaches or touches the electrostatic sensor of the electrostatic touch panel, the electrostatic capacity of the electrostatic sensor increases. In general, an interaction such as a tap is performed based on a change in the increase amount. It is also possible to simultaneously acquire the capacitances of the individual electrostatic sensors. In this case, it is possible to detect the shape of the finger that is in close proximity or in contact with it by simultaneously detecting and interpolating changes in the capacitance of all the electrostatic sensors of the electrostatic touch panel.

  With reference to the explanatory diagram 200 of FIG. 2, the manner in which the shape of a finger in proximity or in contact with the electrostatic touch panel is detected will be described. In the explanatory diagram 200, a region where the capacitance of the electrostatic sensor is increased is indicated by a region 202, and a region where the capacitance of the electrostatic sensor is not changed is indicated by a region 203. When the operating body (finger) 201 is close or in contact, the capacitance of the electrostatic sensor changes. Therefore, as shown in the explanatory diagram 200, the shape of the region 202 changes along the shape of the operation tool 201, and the shape of the operation tool 201 can be detected.

  In addition, it is possible to acquire a change in capacitance of a conductive metal such as aluminum using the above-described electrostatic touch panel. This is because the capacitance of a conductive metal such as aluminum changes uniformly due to its characteristics. In other words, when such a conductive substance is brought into contact with or close to an electrostatic touch panel having a certain degree of high resolution, it is possible to obtain a change in capacitance uniformly along the shape of the substance. It becomes.

  An explanatory diagram 210 of FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a change in capacitance when a conductive material 211 is in contact with or close to the electrostatic touch panel. As shown in FIG. 2, the capacitance of the region 211 formed of a conductive material on the medium changes. On the other hand, the capacitance of the region 213 on the medium where the conductive material is not applied is not changed. In this manner, the shape of the conductive substance 211 that is in contact with or close to the electrostatic touch panel can be read by the change in capacitance.

  Heretofore, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has been described. Each component described above may be configured using a general-purpose member, or may be configured by hardware specialized for the function of each component. Therefore, it is possible to change the hardware configuration to be used as appropriate according to the technical level at the time of implementing each embodiment.

[4] Functional Configuration of Information Processing Apparatus Next, functions of the control unit of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the control unit (CPU 104) of the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  As illustrated in FIG. 3, the control unit of the information processing apparatus 100 includes a determination unit 110, a reading unit 112, an execution unit 114, and the like. The display screen 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 has a touch panel function as the input device 105 and an LCD function as the display device 103.

  The determination unit 110 has a function of determining whether a reading target read in response to a user operation is pattern information or a user's finger. Whether the reading target is pattern information such as a QR code or a user's finger can be determined based on the data characteristics of the reading target. Examples of data characteristics to be read include edge characteristics, dynamic range, frequency characteristics, and the like to be read. The determination unit 110 has a function of providing a determination result to the reading unit 112 as to whether or not the reading target is pattern information or a user's finger.

  The reading unit 112 has a function of reading pattern information formed of a conductive material. The reading unit 112 may read the pattern information when the determination unit 110 determines that the reading target is pattern information such as a QR code. The reading unit 112 binarizes the read pattern information and provides the binarized information to the execution unit 114.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 4, reading of pattern information using the electrostatic touch panel by the reading unit 112 will be described. FIG. 4 illustrates a case where the pattern information formed of a conductive material is a QR code. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a QR code 301 formed with conductive ink is described on the medium 300.

  The information processing apparatus 100 including the electrostatic touch panel is brought into contact with or close to the QR code 301 by the user. As described above, the determination unit 110 determines whether the reading target is pattern information such as a QR code or a user's finger based on the edge characteristics of the reading target. When the determination unit 110 determines that the reading target is pattern information such as a QR code, the reading unit 112 reads pattern information such as a QR code described in the medium 300.

  An explanatory diagram 310 of FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating capacitance change information detected when the electrostatic touch panel is in contact with or close to the medium in which the QR code 311 is described. As shown in the explanatory diagram 310 of FIG. 4, a change in capacitance as in the region 312 can be detected based on metal information formed along the QR code 311. The region 313 having no metal information is a region where the capacitance has not changed.

  For example, an electrostatic touch panel may be installed on one side opposite to the display screen of the information processing apparatus 100, and a change in capacitance may be displayed on the display screen (LCD) with the detected QR code. . Further, a predetermined process may be executed without displaying the QR code detected by the electrostatic touch panel on the display screen.

  Further, the pattern information such as QR code may be formed of a conductive material, and the pattern information may not be visible, and the pattern information to be viewed is different from the actual pattern information. May be.

  The pattern information may be not only code information such as a QR code, but also letters and numbers. In this case, the reading unit 112 reads pattern information such as characters and numbers. Furthermore, code information may be embedded in characters and numbers, and a digital watermark technique may be used. In this case, the reading unit 112 reads the code information embedded in the characters and numbers as well as the characters and numbers.

  The pattern information may be two-dimensional information such as a QR code, or three-dimensional information may be read by changing the concentration of the amount of metal applied to the medium. Thus, by reading pattern information using an electrostatic touch panel, it is possible to accurately read pattern information by touching or approaching the medium without worrying about the surrounding brightness and the distance to the medium. Become.

  Although the case where the information processing apparatus 100 includes the electrostatic touch panel has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an example, and any input device that can read pattern information may be used. For example, pattern information may be represented by unevenness and read by a resistance film method, or an infrared light shielding method, an electromagnetic induction method, or the like may be used.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the execution unit 114 has a function of executing a predetermined process based on the pattern information read by the reading unit 112. As described above, the reading unit 112 binarizes the read pattern information and provides it to the execution unit 114. The execution unit 114 executes a predetermined process based on the binarized information. For example, if the information provided from the reading unit 112 is information related to a URL, the execution unit 114 executes processing for connecting to a Web site specified by the URL via an application of the information processing apparatus 100.

  As described above, for example, when the pattern information is characters or numbers, information such as a URL is read as character information, and the execution unit 114 executes a connection process to a website based on the information. . Further, when the pattern information is a character or a number and code information is embedded in the character or the like, the execution unit 114 may execute a predetermined process based on the embedded code information. .

  Further, the pattern information may include information requesting input of the user's personal identification number or the like. In this case, the execution unit 114 may execute the process only when the password is pressed by the user when the predetermined process is executed.

  Thus, the pattern information itself formed of a conductive material may be detected and recognized, or information embedded in the pattern information may be detected and recognized.

[5] Operation of Information Processing Device The function of the control unit of the information processing device 100 has been described above. Next, an information processing method of the information processing apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the information processing method of the information processing apparatus 100. Hereinafter, a case where the information processing apparatus 100 includes an electrostatic touch panel will be described.

  First, the information processing apparatus 100 generates a thread for monitoring a change in capacitance of the electrostatic touch panel when a predetermined application is activated. And the discrimination | determination part 110 acquires the electrostatic capacitance in each electrostatic sensor of an electrostatic touch panel, and interpolates to arbitrary resolution (S102).

  In step S <b> 102, the determination unit 110 compares the electrostatic capacity when the application is activated with the electrostatic capacity when in contact with or close to the reading target, obtains the calculated difference, and interpolates to an arbitrary resolution.

  The determination unit 110 determines whether the reading target is pattern information or a user's finger based on the capacitance change amount acquired and interpolated in step S102. As described above, whether a reading target is pattern information or a user's finger is determined based on characteristics of capacitance data to be read such as edge characteristics, dynamic range, and frequency characteristics.

  Then, the determination unit 110 provides the determination result to the reading unit 112. When the determination unit 110 determines that the reading target is pattern information, the reading unit 112 discretizes the calculated capacitance change value at an arbitrary interval, and performs mask processing (binarization processing) ( S104). When the reading target is a QR code, the reading unit 112 reads a QR code formed of a conductive material.

  The pattern information discretized and masked in step S104 is provided to the execution unit 114. And the execution part 114 performs a predetermined | prescribed process based on the provided pattern information. If the pattern information is a QR code, the execution unit 114 analyzes according to the QR code analysis procedure and acquires the QR code (S106).

  As described above, when the pattern information is characters, numbers, or the like, the execution unit 114 executes predetermined processing based on the contents of characters, numbers, and the like read by the reading unit 112. Further, when code information is embedded in characters or the like, the execution unit 114 executes predetermined processing based on the embedded code information.

  In step S106, it is determined whether the QR code has been successfully acquired (S108). If acquisition of the QR code is successful in step S108, the execution unit 114 executes processing (interaction) based on the operation instruction based on the QR code and information such as the URL (S110).

  For example, when URL information is stored in the QR code, the execution unit 114 connects to the website specified by the URL. For example, when personal data such as an individual's name and address is stored in the QR code, the execution unit 114 registers the personal data in an address book provided in the information processing apparatus 100. When payment information such as online shopping is stored in the QR code, the execution unit 114 executes payment processing using electronic money or the like.

  According to the information processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, pattern information formed of a conductive material can be read, and predetermined processing can be executed based on the read pattern information. Further, it is determined whether the reading target is pattern information or a finger, and the pattern information can be read when it is determined that the reading target is pattern information.

  Thereby, it is possible to detect and recognize pattern information in contact with or close to the information processing apparatus 100. For example, when the pattern information is a QR code, the information processing apparatus 100 can be brought into contact with or close to the QR code, and a predetermined process can be executed based on the QR code.

  According to the above method, since the power consumption is smaller than the method of photographing and reading the pattern information with the camera provided in the information processing apparatus 100, it is possible to continuously execute the process of reading the pattern information. Further, according to the above method, explicit interaction such as turning on the power of the camera at the time of shooting is not required.

  Furthermore, it is possible to add a QR code reading function to the electrostatic touch panel. Thereby, in a device using a touch panel, an existing device can be reused, and the size and production cost of the information processing apparatus 100 can be saved.

  Further, when shooting with a camera, it is necessary to adjust ambient brightness, but according to the present embodiment, it is possible to read pattern information in a dark state. Furthermore, since it is also possible to recognize by touching the pattern information, it is not necessary to adjust the position of the information processing apparatus 100 so that the pattern information is within the imaging range by looking into the camera.

  In addition, although the QR code printed on the paper medium can be easily duplicated, pattern information formed of a conductive material cannot be easily duplicated, and security can be improved. For example, it is possible to place an arbitrary panel on a QR code formed of a conductive material to make it more difficult to copy information and prevent rewriting of information.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is obvious that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can come up with various changes or modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. Of course, it is understood that these also belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

It is a block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the information processing apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the detection method of the operation body by the electrostatic touch panel concerning the embodiment. It is the block diagram which showed the function structure of the control part of the information processing apparatus concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining reading of the pattern information using the electrostatic touch panel concerning the embodiment. It is a flowchart explaining the information processing method of the information processing apparatus concerning the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining reading of the QR code by the conventional mobile phone with a camera.

Explanation of symbols

100 Information processing apparatus 101 RAM
102 Non-volatile memory 103 Display device 104 CPU
105 Input Device 110 Discrimination Unit 112 Reading Unit 114 Execution Unit 10 Display Screen

Claims (9)

A reading unit for reading pattern information formed of a conductive material;
An execution unit that executes predetermined processing based on the pattern information read by the reading unit;
An information processing apparatus comprising: The reading unit reads the pattern information using a capacitive touch panel,
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reads the pattern information when the pattern information contacts or approaches a capacitive touch panel. A determination unit that determines whether a reading target to be read in response to a user operation is the pattern information or a finger;
The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit reads the pattern information when the determination unit determines that the reading target is the pattern information.   The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading unit performs binarization processing on the read pattern information.   The said discrimination | determination part discriminate | determines whether the said reading object is the said pattern information or the said finger | toe based on the characteristic of the electrostatic capacitance data of the said reading object. Information processing device.   The determination unit determines whether or not the reading target is the pattern information based on at least one of the characteristics of capacitance data of edge characteristics, dynamic range, and frequency characteristics of the reading target. The information processing apparatus according to any one of 1 to 5. Reading pattern information formed of a conductive material;
Executing a predetermined process based on the read pattern information;
Including an information processing method. Computer
A reading unit for reading pattern information formed of a conductive material;
An execution unit that executes predetermined processing based on the pattern information read by the reading unit;
A program for causing an information processing apparatus to function. An information processing apparatus, and a medium including pattern information formed of a conductive material readable by the information processing apparatus,
The information processing apparatus includes:
A reading unit for reading the pattern information included in the medium;
An execution unit that executes predetermined processing based on the pattern information read by the reading unit;
An information processing system comprising:

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